Congressman Diane Black

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| The Tennessean

U.S. Rep. Scott DesJarlais

U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper

U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn

U.S. Sen. Bob Corker

Sen. Lamar Alexander

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Several members of Congress from Middle Tennessee watched President Barack Obama address the nation with a skeptical eye, saying he hadn’t done enough to justify military action even before he started talking.

Earlier Tuesday, U.S. Reps. Marsha Blackburn and Diane Black added their names to the list of lawmakers who plan to vote against a military strike on Syria. In doing so they joined Sen. Lamar Alexander, who told the Rotary Club of Nashville on Monday that he would vote “no” — a position Alexander reiterated after the president’s speech.

“It is more consistent with our national security interests for the president to pursue a diplomatic solution that demonstrates our disgust with and discourages further use of chemical weapons in Syria, and that includes exploring with appropriate skepticism the Russian proposal,” Alexander said in a statement.

Tennessee’s other GOP senator, Bob Corker, has voted to give the president limited authority for a surgical strike against Syria. The Republican House members announced their opposition in a pair of statements.

Blackburn, R-Brentwood, said Obama had not made the case that an attack on Bashar Assad’s regime was in the United States’ interest.

“I am concerned that U.S. military action in Syria will result in another extended involvement in the Middle East and this is unwise,” Blackburn said.

Black, R-Gallatin, said she has not seen “the leadership and coherent strategy that the administration should demonstrate before taking military action.”

Rep. Scott DesJarlais, R-Jasper, said in a statement that the “best possible outcome” would be for Assad to surrender any chemical weapons he has.

“As I have said from the beginning, it would be a grave mistake for the United States to unilaterally commit military forces in Syria’s civil war,” he said. “In this instance, a diplomatic approach is the correct approach. It is rather unfortunate, however, that the Obama administration put itself in this position in the first place and had to look to Russia to provide a solution for preventing an armed conflict.”

Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Nashville, said Obama’s threat of force “seems to be getting Russia to back off its support for Syria.

“It’s too early to see if Russia is sincere, but it’s a hopeful sign.”